First came Barbenheimer, and now Hollywood may be gearing up for another box office face-off with a catchy name. With Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday both locked in for a December 18 release, the idea
of a shared pop culture moment is already taking shape, thanks to Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet.
The two stars leaned into the moment during a special screening of Marty Supreme in Los Angeles, where excitement around their respective projects spilt beyond the screen. In a move to boost Timothée’s Oscar campaign, Downey sat down for a Q and A with him post the screening.
Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet want Dunesday to happen
Speaking on stage, Downey Jr. playfully floated the idea of a joint release phenomenon. “We both have films opening on December 18, and we decided to coin it … We’re thinking Dunesday,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd. He added with a grin, “We’ll see if we’re still friends by then.” The comment was met with cheers, hinting at how eagerly fans are watching this unusual scheduling clash.
Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet on ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ and ‘DUNE: PART 3’ releasing on the same day:
“We both have films opening on December 18th, and we decided to coin a name for it. We’re thinking ‘DUNESDAY.’”
(via @timotheenation)
— Avengers Updates (@AvengersUpdated) January 15, 2026
The comparison to Barbenheimer feels inevitable. Barbie and Oppenheimer dominated the summer of 2023 together, turning a release date coincidence into a global event that fueled ticket sales and online buzz. Studios have since tried to recreate that magic, though not every pairing has struck the same chord.
From a business standpoint, both upcoming films carry serious weight. The Avengers franchise last delivered Endgame, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing films ever. Meanwhile, Dune: Part Two proved the sci-fi epic’s pull by raking in hundreds of millions worldwide.
Avengers: Doomsday And Dune: Part Three
Avengers: Doomsday will usher in Marvel’s Phase 6, with Downey Jr. returning in a new role as Doctor Doom, surrounded by a massive ensemble. The movie is turning out to be one of the most anticipated movies of the year, with several OG casts like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and more returning. In the film, the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and the X-Men team up to face Doctor Doom
Dune: Part Three, meanwhile, will close Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s saga, following Paul Atreides deeper into power, prophecy, and consequence. Whether Dunesday catches on or not, December 18 is shaping up to be a major moment for moviegoers.
